CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council at its Monday, April 6, meeting took a few moments to recognize winners of the local Elks Club 2026 Hoop Shoot.
Winners included Alex Wood of Holly Pond Elementary School, Avery Stricklin of Good Hope Elementary School, Kylie Minor of East Elementary School, John Carl Knight of Sacred Heart Elementary School and Paxton Plourd of Parkside Elementary School.
The 2026 Hoop Shoot National Finals will take place April 16-19 in Chicago.
Councilman Chuck Shikle said April 12-18 is Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Mayor Woody Jacobs issued a proclamation for recognizing the week in Cullman.
Shikle also reported that a new, $970,000 fire truck should be on the road and serving the public within the next month.
Councilman David Moss said the Heritage Park splash pads are being replaced. This should, ideally, he said, be finished by June.
Councilman Jason Willoughby reported that right-of-way bushhog routes have begun. He said the city has received two of the four trucks it had been anticipating, with the low bidder being Long Lewis Automotive Group.
Councilman Paul Schaffer in his report stated the city’s Sanitary and Sewer Improvement Program is in phase two. “This is going to improve our sewers tremendously,” he said.
Council President Kim Hall advised the city’s human resources content manager is now live.
“We have begun the process of digitalizing the personnel record system,” she said. “That’s been a work in progress, but we have it working now. We’ve onboarded 54 employees; eight full time and 46 seasonal.”
Cullman Economic Development Agency Director Jamie Troutman reported that in 2025 Cullman was the fifth-fastest growing city in Alabama.
The Logan Street project survey will start this week and will ideally start in June once the survey is reviewed. Mayor Woody Jacobs stated the city was awarded a Community Development Block Grant in 2025 after being unsuccessful in two applications. Jacobs said it is roughly roughly three months out.
“Our guys will work to the best of their ability, but there’s a certain amount of inconvenience anytime you do a project of this magnitude,” he said. “So we will ask now, and ask again that you be patient with our folks.”
He went on to advise that the remainder of the U.S. Highway 278 project has been turned over to Alabama Department of Transportation. “You’re probably looking at 2033 completion.”
Hall made a point to mention, on the topic of road and sewer projects, that having a mass communication alert is in the public’s best interest. It will allow individuals to properly plan their routes accordingly as to not be inconvenienced by the work.
On second readings and unfinished business the council approved the following ordinances:
- Second reading of Ordinance No. 2026-33 to rezone property owned by Rodney Hawkins located at *701 Main Avenue SW* from R-4 Residential to B-2 Business District (PIN 5161)
- *Second reading of Ordinance No. 2026-36 to annex property owned by Joseph and William Culpepper located at County Road 1269 as AG-1 Agricultural District (PIN 5628)
- *Second reading of Ordinance No. 2026-37* to rezone property owned by William and Jenna Culpepper located at 960 County Road 1269 as R-1 Residential District (PIN 81877)
Moving to new business the council approved the following resolutions:
- Resolution No. 2026-04 to adopt the annual municipal water pollution prevention resolution
- Resolution No. 2026-05 to approve Change Orders No. 1 and 2 to Pipeworks Plus, Inc. for the Mann Subbasin Sewer Rehabilitation project increasing the total project cost by $2,060.250
- Resolution No. 2026-06 to award the bid for one or more new 4WD Trucks to Long Lewis Automotive, the lowest responsive bidder, for $50,178.70
The council also had a first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-38 to adopt personnel policies (new handbook).
Hall advised that as she came onto the council the handbook was already in the revision process.
“When I came on, our current human resource director, Michelle Bates, was already in the process of working on the handbook and making revisions to policies based on new laws, new technology that’s come out since 2009.”
She went on to say, ‘Our city clerk, Wesley Moore, has gone back to cross review it with ordinances that have been passed since 2009, because we have to make sure that any ordinances that are in place are reflected in the handbook. It’s been a work in progress.”
The following special event requests were approved by the council:
- Mike Ward of Hope Road Ministries to hold a gospel celebration at the Festhalle on April 10, from 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
- Alyson Miley of Cullman Caring for Kids to hold a Kickin’ It for the Kids event at Cullman Fairgrounds on May 9, from 1-6 p.m.
- Romero Flores of the Good Samaritan Health Clinic for a Run for Good 5K fundraiser on June 27, from 6-10 a.m.
- Tonya Carter to hold annual Warehouse District Street Sale on April 10-11
The next Cullman City Council meeting will take place at the city hall auditorium on April 20, at 7 p.m.
